Mary Mitchell

Now blacks know what it feels like when a black comic racially attacks white people, which is a regular occurance. To say that "cracker" or "white boy" is more acceptable than "nigger" is hypocritical and racist. I think Michael Richards should be commended for speaking his mind. I only wish he would stick to his guns and stop with the fake apologies. BTW, seeing the hundreds of millions of dollars he made on "Seinfeld", calling him a has-been might be inappropriate. It's more appropriate to call O.J. Simpson a has-been.

Apparently some young black (& white & hispanic) men are still confused about the word, particularly the rapper-thug wann-be's.
Black folks should lead by example & NOT use this awful word, thereby giving them a leg to stand on when denouncing non-blacks that use this word.
As funny as Richard Pryor was, the days of using this word in comedyor in any other form are over. Unless you're in the KKK, of course.

As a hispanic male, i'm not offended. Blacks are an obnoxious race..Loud, inappropriate and rude. A racist bunch themselves. Take what you dish out and move on.

I am more hurt by whom said it , than what was said. I faithfully watched all espisode of Jerry to see krammer, Because I thought Krammer is Krammer, I didnot attach a stigmation on him ,not even white. I see him in another light now.

You should be more than ashamed and unaccepting of the tirade he displayed. Regardless if blacks use that name on each other or not, we all know the difference. It doesnt take a rocket science to figure that out, no pun intended. He knew he was wrong and he knows what weight that word holds, which is why he said it over and over again. Had he not been caught on camera, I doubt, I highly doubt he would apologize. Funny, his "staff" claim he has apologized, but no public apology? Smells like a racist to me.

And here's another tidbit, for you to be an African American woman and not be offended by the use of the N word, whether it be around other blacks or not shows where your priorities are. The Sun Times must pay pretty good, eh?

MITCHELL COMMENT:

I'm just as offended when blacks use the "N" word as I am when whites use it. I'm sure I've been clear on that point.

Richards will get a PASS on this because he is Jewish. If he were a Christian like poor Mel Gibson, the incident would not go away so easily...mark my words.

11/21/06

In my opinion no one blasts out racial remarks to such depths and lengths unless they are comfortable enough to consider blacks inferior to themselves. This guy made hate speech to convey his inner beliefs that blacks have no right to heckle if they believe that they are not getting what they paid for. Didn't the former Senator of Virginia also attack a citizens' race in the form of a public attack?

I agree with Ms Mitchell except for one thing...it doesn't matter if black people use the "n" word to each other. It doesn't mean the same. Richards meaning of it was far from friendly. Let's say we're friends, and you do something in jest and I say "you jerk!" and you laugh and I laugh, and everything is okay. But what if I had a history of not liking you and I said you are such a (bleeping) jerk! Its not as funny. Same thing with the n-word. Our white friends know the difference, trust me.

I am totally disgusted with his behavior. I really loved watching Seinfeld. I can no longer watch it. I am so sick of racist people using any excuse and or forum to show their true colors. Goodbye Seinfeld and good riddance Kramer!!!

Although it offends me that Mr. Richards found it necessary to use the word "nigger", it does not bother me as much as his comments about "lynching". It really is upsetting that for all the terrible things Mr. Richard's said about lynchings and what was happening to blacks 50 years ago, everyone is focusing on the word "nigger". Which in light of everything else Mr. Richard's said, seems to me to be kind of inconsequential.

I just want to know how long are we going to be hated...come on...give me a date...the next century....WHAT??? okay, Let's due a breakdown...you tried to kill us...okay...you destroyed our families with the hatred you feel..okay..You put us in jail for crimes we didn't commit..You steal from us on every level...Let me tell you something. We are here to stay..You know what people should do, who hates a group of people,Take it up God...He's the one with the answer...He has us here for a reason. So, no matter what you do or say. Guess what? We are still going to be here.....It's getting old white people. It's getting old!!!!!

His career should be over..POINT BLANK!!!

Good point, Michael Knight. I'm a white guy and have read all sorts of crazy rhetoric about this idiot and what he said. Your comment made the most sense of any I've seen. And yes, I do know the difference.

I agree with several others in that it doesn't matter whether or not Blacks use the word. He knew the difference. If he didn't, he wouldn't be on the show apologizing. Personally, I'm tired of Black folks always blaming ourselves for the racism of whites. I could care less whether we use that word or not, they SHOULDN'T, and they know it. The fact that they want to use it so bad is simply an indicator of how they feel about us. Is it easier for us to beat up on our own behavior before we dare question the integrity of a white man? That would be so sad.

MITCHELL COMMENT:

What does it mean then when blacks get angry and call another black person the "n" word. Why is that acceptable?

Get over it, many black comedians(Eddie Murphy) use racial slurs against white people and its totally acceptable.Stop feeling sorry for yourselves and grin and bear it like white people do.

JUST SOME OBSERVATIONS:
Sticks and stones....
Are blacks less racist than whites or is it just that white racists are more publicized?
I seem to remember some statistics recently published in this newspaper by independent and government sources about test scores, incarceration levels, and fatherless households of blacks vs whites. Can you guess which way they lean?
Stereotypes exist for a reason - they don't arise "out of the blue".
When will the political correctness stop? Can it get worse?
Wouldn't it be nice if adult folks were accountable for their own actions, had thicker skin, stopped fingerpointing? - just as we were taught in grammar school.
Go out, get a job, obey the laws, be a productive member of society. This is what will turn racists into non-racists.

Jerry, shut that stupid mess up. (I'm referring to the first person who posted on the blog) Nobody was called "white boy" while they were being hung from trees! Nobody was being called "cracker" while they were dragged out of their houses to be lynched. Nobody was called "honky" while their houses, businesses, and churches were firebombed. It's NOT the same. And what the hell do you mean, "now Blacks know what it feels like?" Fool, have you ever heard of Blackface? Have you? Have you ever seen how Blacks were made fun of in this country. YOU are the one who will NEVER know how it feels to be degraded in such a way. And stop running around saying that anything that Black people do is racist. Puhlease! I didn't see all these white folks so worried about racism and hypocrisy when Black folks were getting hoses and dogs turned on them in the streets. Now y'all wanna be so conscious about racism. Whatever. Even the dumbest person in the world knows not to let the criminal define the crime!

Ms. Mitchell, I never said I even condoned the usage of the word by African-Americans, and I certainly didn't say that it was appropriate to use amongst ourselves when we're angry. But to imply that the word holds as much venom and history in it when it's said by a Black person as opposed to when it's said by a white person is ridiculous.

MITCHELL COMMENT:

No. What's ridiculous is black people defending the use of nigger, period.

"It's what lies just beneath the surface" That's what he said. Beneath the surface of an arrogant, over privileged, minimally talented, career way-past-it's prime white guy. Desperate, pathetic, ugly, & over. Straight up 100% racist. He outed himself.

Siobhan, take a good look at what year you are living in!

Joe, perhaps white people need to "grin and bear it" because they made Black folks "grin and bear" slavery and state-sanctioned prejudice for a total of more than 500 years. If that's all y'all get for all the crimes you've committed, you oughta thank God and keep it moving.

Jerry, have you ever thought that more blacks have lower test scores, are incarcerated and have fatherless households because of something like, I don't know, SLAVERY! Nothing that happens occurs independent of history. Slavery still effects African-Americans to this day in ways which a shallow-minded individual such as yourself could never wrap your mind around. Thicker skin? Shoot, I think I like Richard's racist tirade better. At least he was being honest in his disdain for Blacks. You're trying to cloak yours in a pseudo-intelligent argument based on nothing but numbers.

I am a white woman and I am horrified and disgusted by Richard's coments. There is right and wrong in the world and he was wrong period! No excuses. I am personally embarassed even though I never cared for him or Seinfeld. No one can be responsible for the actions of another but I am very sorry for all the innocent children who may be hurt by the remark.

"Even so, it's difficult for me to be too shocked by Kramer's use of the "n" word when black people are calling each other niggers in front of white people everyday."

Thank you for that admission, Mary.

They also use "that word" in front of "black people" every day

You forgot to use your usual terms "brothers" and "sisters" when you wrote "black people".

As you and I both know: "black people" and "white people" are all brothers and sisters.

I am tired of this all, to be truthful. Yes, I am white but I don't like the "N" word either. However, I also don't like the names the whites are called.
Admittedly, the afro-americans have been called these dumb names much longer than the whites have, at least openly. Now that Black Comics use the words "Honky", "Cracker", etc.,in their acts, we whites ought to realize how they felt all along.
Why don't we cut the crap and ALL take a lesson from the children...
"STICKS AND STONES WILL BREAK MY BONES, BUT NAMES WILL NEVER HURT ME!" Maybe we can get over all this nonsense.

Hey this guy has made millions of people laugh for years and since he has done more good than harm leave him alone. What if he would have said shanty Irishman or Mick would all of us good Irish get on his case- no we would open another case and toast him

While "nigger" was the racial epithet that was most used during his tirade. He said much more that should be focused on and will not lead in to the discussion of comparing "Nigger" to "White boy" or "Cracker" or did the its used by blacks "allow" Richards the ability to use it. Which takes the discussion away from the main subject Mr. Richards. Stop with the diversion folks and address the issue.

Richards stated that "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside-down with a fucking fork up your ass" a reference to lynching. Saying Nigger is one thing but to allude to lynching is another. He goes on to state his white supremacist stand when he state "That what happens when you interrupt the white man". Any apology he makes or made by him can be negated when he says ""It shocks you, it shocks you...what lies beneath."

With what he said and how he said it one would have to be a fool to guess what lies beneath Michael Richards.

One might try to wish this incident away with the comment that the late comic-great Lenny Bruce sometimes used the pejorative term in his own routines. The difference between Messrs. Bruce and Richards are too numerous to mention here. But let it be noted that when Lenny Bruce used the "N" word, it was often to expose the hypocrisy of white-think, or at the very least, to diffuse its inflammatory nature.

Mr. Richards' use of the word, on the other hand, was no more than the same racist tirade /all/ people have been subjected to since the days of European colonialism. It doesn't matter: Chinese, Filipino, Latino, African-American, etc. -- all have been subjected to the evils of racism. And to claim it's "alright" in our much more "enlightened" age to hurl such epithets, using the argument that "Black people call themselves ... " is just plain ignorance. It's really is /different/ when -- say -- a Latino uses the term "Gabacho" or "Guero" when they speak of white people, because they do not control the essential dialogue of commerce and political power. In other words, their use of the term will not have the same economic effect on the lives of large numbers of people such as when an Anglo calls a Latino a "Wetback" or "Mojado".

/That/ is why racial epithets hurt -- not just because they're vulgar, but because they have a hidden power to subject and dehumanise large numbers of people solely on account of their color or ethnic origin.

love n peaces,
Bobby

"The more things change, the more they remain the same".

As I black woman I'm not offended. however,In response to "joe's" comment above: I beg to differ the Hispanic race is provingly more rude & loud(& GETTING WORSE) by experience. & I think that remark above was more offensive than kramer's, So you just used this outlet to say it.anyway,I do believe there is a time & place for everything and kramer's temper sold him out!

My ethnicity being African American aside, I personally think Richards is at a great loss without Jerry Seinfeld or particularly writer Larry David telling him what to say and do. It's my knowledge that TRUE professional comedians (the previous 3 words there are the key) make a heckler's statement into a joke instead of attacking that person's ethnicity (save maybe Carlos Mencia). Richards is an ACTOR--NOT a comedian. He shouldn't have been on that club's stage in the first place--unless maybe Larry David had scripted his performance.
Richards' last failed attempt at a TV show proved that he's a washout anyway. I DO NOT condone in the least bit what he said but why make a big deal out of it? Richards' lack of dimension was exposed quite a while ago. There's much more important issues at hand in our cities, neighborhoods and particularly our WORLD to worry about than the rantings of an obviously salty one dimensional ACTOR.

Part of this is probably Michael Richards' inexperience as a stand-up comic, and part of it may be his true actual feelings. (Incidentally, 57 years old is not a great time to be launching a stand-up career). Do black comedians have a little more leeway on racial issues? Probably. But still, a skilled comedian can deftly make jokes about race and whether the comedian is black, white, Hispanic, Asian, etc. the result is often hilariously funny. Sarcasm is best applied with a needle, not a sledgehammer. Bringing to mind images of lynchings- I have a hard time finding any humor there.

People should have been skeptical just by the title of Michael Richard's act: A Knight of Komedy by Kramer. Ron

Well, it's not surprising that this happened in Hollywood, where everything is fake, until he let himself go at the mouth. There are so many other cultures that are put down, like mine. Every St. Patrick's Day, the Irish are put into a light that we are all drunks, yet, all of the brewers in this country continue to use the Irish for sales of Booze.

For all the non-black respondents: As a black man, I do not allow another black person to refer to me as "nigger" or "nigga". I refuse to be degraded in this manner and it would serve you well to know that many black men share my opinion. It's unfortunate that men like me have to be cast in the same light as those who use the word nigger. I don't apologize for other black people calling each other nigga; that's their shortcoming. This is what Dr. King referred to when he said judge people by their character-more specifically their INDIVIDUAL character. Just because there are a lot of uninformed and uneducated blacks out there, doesn't give any one of you the right to paint us all with the same brush. And...so I don't forget, its too bad that Michael Richards feels that way about blacks. Mary Mitchell: Keep up the good work, I'm proud of your column!

As a black man in America (a place that, in spite of her attrocities towards my people, I still love as my home),I am not surprised at the comment. Racism, and racists are as American as apple pie;it is woven into the fabric of THIS society. Those who are not outwardly racist are probably,in some way, unwittingly racist. This will not change until dialouge, atonement, and REALIZATION occurs. Unfortunately, I am not optimistic that this will happen; there are too many who benefit from the perpetuation of racism.Also,how can you identify it if you've never been victimized by it? Finally, there are many narrow minded people(see comment by Rey Flores)WHO ARE JUST PLAIN IGNORANT!

I have never used the N word as amusement, but the reference to lynching is what chills me. My grandfather has told me stories of how black men and women were burned, shot, beat just because they were black. Words do not affect me but to happily throw around the comment of lynching is frightening.

Blacks shouldn't call themselves niggers(niggas)for the same reasons we don't want whites calling us niggers.The history of violence that we have towards one anotherand not loving & supporting each other.we,ve been responsible for so much pain & death to our own people.We need to learn how to love & respect our selves.Dropping nigga from our vocabulary is a step in that direction.Malcom x once said we need to change the way we see ourselves in the world.

"As a hispanic male, i'm not offended. Blacks are an obnoxious race..Loud, inappropriate and rude. A racist bunch themselves. Take what you dish out and move on."... Wow. As a black male, I'm not offended... Because that comment CAME from an hispanic.

"I seem to remember some statistics recently published in this newspaper by independent and government sources about test scores"

Social psychologist Claude Steele of Stanford found that when African Americans take the SAT WITHOUT having to identify their race, or when they take it believing it is just an exercise, there is NO difference in test scores between African Americans as a group and whites as a group. He coined the term "stereotype vulnerabily." The pressure of fallaciuos stereotypes presents independent obstacles and become self-fulfilling prophecy. (The same is true for women as well in math and science.) I don't think this information will matter to people who are looking for an excuse for their bigotry. But the rest of us might be interested in knowing how those newspaper statistics are far from the whole story.

We as black people need to get ourselves together, because we're the only group of people that doesn't get along. Every other race knows that. I don't agree with what Richard has said, but myself, have used the "n" word towards other African Americans myself. So, my fellow African Americans, can we at least try to get along?

I'm a white man (not white boy - don't even use that).I was bothered by Kramer's comments. But again many black people lump ALL whites into his category, and it's just not true. A jerk is a jerk, white or black.

This was a verbal fight between two men who grasped at what ever they could use as a defense. To bad it had to be racial slurs. I see both as being just as guilty as the other. Shake hands, say your sorry, and get on with the more important issue. Like it or not this is a free country where we have the freedom of speech. Let's keep it free and remember those who are fighting for those freedoms.

whatever...everybody is racist to some degree.....you're all a bunch of hypocrits....it is only " the right thing to say when you are infront of people...but as soon as we are with "our own people " we turn around and offend other races....EVERYBODY IS GUILTY OF THIS.....but Richards is an idiot for not biting his tongue....GAVACHO IDIOTA!!!!!

Wow. Just wow. It would seem that very, VERY few people here have their priorities worked out.

Some of you speak as though North America is STILL a place of apartheid, of racial hate.

People should not be held responsible for what their ANCESTORS did - that's like hating all Germans because of Hitler, or hating all Jews because they were partly responsible for Jesus' death.

It's absolutely ridiculous that anyone can say they're against racism, when really they're just against white people(or any other group which happens to have racist members).

I'm all for people being polite, but I think free speech should be allowed for anyone. If Richards wants to drop an n-bomb, by all means, let him. People shouldn'e be horrified by what they hear. I agree that it's terribly rude on his part, and rather bigoted to present such opinions of a race of people, but one must look at things rationally - if America is